Writing Feedback / Is image more powerful than the written word? - ielts [5]

In the modern world, the image (photograph or film) is becoming a more powerful way of communication than the written word. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

"A picture is worth a thousand words" is a popular maxim that is being used for a very long time. This strongly depicts the power of images in conveying messages, ideas, or opinions to people. Nevertheless, the importance of written word can never be denied as it is also another way of communication that is commonly used. Hence, I agree only to certain degree that in today's world, image serves as a more effective means of communication.

Firstly, pictures can influence the way people think. For example, nowadays horrendous images are displayed on the cigarette boxes to illustrate the consequences of smoking. As a result, statistics show a slight reduction in the number of smokers, indicating that they realize the effects of the negative habit. Not only that, the magnificent photograph captured by Kevin Carter, which portrayed a starving Sudanese child struck by extreme poverty has successfully highlighted the plight faced by the citizens in Sudan. Apart from that, images are also widely used in newspapers, magazines and advertisements. Thus, it is undeniable that images in the absence of words can obviously claim the attraction of many.

Looking from another perspective, written words are also vital in order to spread across certain messages. With only pictures, everyone is left to their own interpretation on how they perceive the images. Nonetheless, this is different when words are used to explain what the illustration is about. Furthermore, the primary way of educating students is also by this way. Academic textbooks these days are laden with words besides pictures to guide the readers to comprehend better.

To conclude, both images and words go hand in hand and one cannot wholly emphasise on only one aspect, either images or words. Hence, for a more meaningful communication, these two elements have their respective roles to play: image to exemplify and words to describe a particular subject.

Writing Feedback / "Those who use drugs should be automatically sentenced to time in prison" - IELTS [3]

Drug addiction is becoming an increasing problem. In order to reduce this problem, anyone caught using drugs should be automatically sentenced to time in prison. Do you agree or disagree?

Today, we no longer fear any contagious diseases, kudos to modern technology and medical advancement. However, it is the contagious behaviors such as addiction and the wrong abuse of drugs that continue to terrorize our society, especially the young ones. It is undeniable that drug addiction is indeed on the rise and effective solutions must be taken in order to trim down the number of drug addicts. Some suggest that it would be better if those caught red-handed using drugs be imprisoned. In my opinion, I disagree to the aforementioned resolution due to the reasons that I will put forward below.

First of all, I do agree that some of the addicts do turn over a new leaf at the prison. Nevertheless, once they return to the society, they tend to relapse and get involved in drugs again. This is because, in the prisons, there would not be any programs or talks that can enlighten and transform them as well as change their perspectives towards drugs. As such, all the efforts of putting them behind bars are simply in vain. Instead, if the addicts are sent to rehabilitation centres, they will treated for their addiction. On top of that, counselors can provide them with counseling and motivation to help them build a new life.

On the other hand, some argue that if the drug addicts are not given intense punishment, they will not change and continue to misuse drugs. Nonetheless, I believe that this is mainly due to the society not accepting the prisoners as a part of them. If only the society or the people surrounding the addicts give them a second chance, I am sure that they will never abuse drugs once more. The support alone is not sufficient. They can also report to the concerned parties about any misuse of drugs at the residential areas. Thus, with more public awareness, drug abuse can be certainly be reduced and eventually brought to a halt without having to put the addicts into jail.

Everyone of us deserves a second chance in life. After all, we are human beings and we learn from our mistakes. Referring to the consequentalist theory, the society should allow leniency for people to experiment and learn, as long as it is on their own expenses. To put it in a nutshell, I believe that sending the drug addicts to rehabilitation centres acts as a beacon of hope for the affected individuals and is also a crucial step in helping them redeem their lives and rejuvenate their lost hopes for a better future rather than sending them to prison.

Writing Feedback / Should studying subjects that are needed by society be promoted? [5]

Modern societies need specialists in certain fields, but not in others. Some people therefore think that governments should pay university fees for students who study subjects that are needed by society. Those who choose to study less relevant subjects should not receive government funding.

Would the advantages of such an educational policy outweigh the disadvantages?

Nowadays, job opportunities can be found in a myriad of fields. However, the degree of importance of these jobs to society differs from one to the other. In most countries, professions such as doctors, lawyers and accountants are always in high demand whereas people who work in fields related to the Arts, such as music, fashion and design and literature, are considered by many to contribute less to societal development. Hence, a proportion of the society believe that the government should only give financial backing to those who enrol in courses that can allow them to meet the needs of the nation in the near future. However, this begs the question: would such a move be for the greater good or would it prove to be a bane? I, for one, believe that the cons of such a move would far outweigh the pros. I will now state the reasons for my above point of view.

Some people are of the opinion that money makes the world go round and they place high importance on anything that offers monetary gain. Government funding that goes to selected fields that are considered beneficial to the nation would result in some students choosing to further their studies in fields that they are not interested inEven though society will no longer have a lack of specialists in critical fields, the funded students may not be passionate about their jobs and will end up not giving their best to the country.

Moreover, if the country focuses only on critical areas, the other sectors will soon be neglected. For instance, jobs in hotel management are considered less important by some people. Thus, if the above step was taken, the number of graduates who will be available to fill job vacancies in this field will decline in the future. Although such a situation may not seem so serious, it would indeed be a very big blow for the country. This is because the tourism industry usually contributes a lion's share to the country's income. In short, all sectors help the nation in one way or another even though this may not seem to be obvious in some cases.

However, there are some advantages that can be attained if this suggestion were carried out. Firstly, the high job demand in significant fields could be met accordingly. Furthermore, the specialists in fields such as accounting and engineering will be in abundance in the future and this will lead to the progress of a country as a whole. This will be especially evident in Third World countries such as Namibia, Kenya and Indonesia.

In conclusion, it is obvious that such an educational policy will only backfire on the nation. It is indeed true that such a step would bring about some advantages. However, the disadvantages, although not evident now, will certainly bring distinct negative side effects in the future.

Writing Feedback / IELTS - Unlimited use of cars may cause many problems. [3]

Unlimited use of cars may cause many problems. What are those problems? In order to reduce the problem, the public should be discouraged to use cars. What are your opinions?

Someone has said it right : cars have indeed become an article of dress without which we feel uncertain , unclad and incomplete. This is the reason the number of cars on the roads is on the rise each year. Undoubtedly, this has caused serious congestion on the roads and longer commuting periods. Surveys reveal that this condition is more likely to worsen in the future. Hence, effective solutions must be achieved in order to lessen the problem of over using cars. Some suggest that the public should be discouraged to use cars. I agree to the aforementioned resolution, provided that those in charge improve the conditions of the public transports, with the government introducing certain policies.

First of all, in order to persuade the public to make use of the public transports frequently, it is important for the authorities to construct more free parks. By so doing, people can drive from their respective homes and finally take the public transport such as bus or the light rail transit (LRT) into the central where they work or study. As a result, they will be able to not only enjoy a more relaxed journey, but also will be able to reduce the traffic jams on the road. Besides that, passengers would prefer to travel in a comfortable condition. So, if companies enhance their services, for instance by keeping their transports clean always, it is more likely that they retain as well as draw more satisfied passengers.

Next, the government should have more tolls along the urban motorways. As a consequence, many would opt to use the public transports as they will be able to save money on their travels. This policy has been successfully implemented in many cities and is certainly effective in reducing the number of cars on the road. Apart from that, by increasing the price of parking permits and restricting the number of car parks in urban areas, undeniably, more car users will abandon their cars in favour of public transports.

To put it in a nutshell, the usage of cars should indeed be trimmed down. Instead, people can choose to use the public transports or even walk if their destinations are only a stone's throw away from their homes. If this happens, grave problems on the road can thus be diminished and all can definitely travel at ease.

Writing Feedback / Money spent on the Arts by a government and number of participants in arts. [6]

The pie charts illustrate the amount of money spent on the Arts by a government while the bar graph presents the number of participants in the Arts events in 1995 and 2005.

From the pie charts, it is evident that in 1995, the music division received most of the government's support which was almost 50%. Contrastingly, in 2005, both the music component and the theatre seemed to be receiving approximately 38% each of the government's fund. Nevertheless, there is a rise in the number of people taking part in the event ( 25 000 people ) from 1995 to 2005. Interestingly, the visual arts which obtained about a quarter of the fund in 1995 shrunk to less than two tenth in 2005. In correlation to that, a decrease of about 4% is noted in the number of participants in that event. On the other hand, as the government gave more attention to the literature component in 2005( approximately 12%) compared to that in 1995 ( around 8%) , there is a positive growth of about one third in the support given by the public.

- help me to correct my essay and also to give me ideas on how to present my ideas.. sorry couldnt upload the pie charts.

Undergraduate / The more time people use the internet, the less time they spend with real human being [10]

According to a recent study, the more time people use the internet, the less time they spend with real human beings. Should we worry about the effect this is having on social interaction or should we see the internet as a way of opening up new communication possibilities worldwide? What are your views?

In today's society, the Internet has made its way into almost every home. It has found a place in the hearts of many over the decades. With the advent of the latest technologies, now Internet is assessable not only through computers but also through mobile phones, providing an easy and convenient access to the web. In correlation to that, a research has brought to light that the more time people surf the Internet, the lesser is the time they spend with humans. This is certainly something that everyone should worry about. Though admittedly web is a great place for socializing, it can also pose negative impacts on human interactions.

Currently, we have many social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Friendster. These sites are places where we can find and make friends. Besides that, there are also messengers that enable anyone to chat, for instance MSN and Yahoo messenger. A study by the UNICEF shows that social networking websites have been voted as the fastest and easiest method of generating friendship compared to sending letters. Through these websites, we can without difficulty meet new friends and learn about their cultures as well as the traditions in their countries. Apart from that, we can also share our views on global and political issues which definitely open our horizons. To conclude, one can certainly benefit from communicating through Internet as it involves people from all over the world.

Nevertheless, looking from the another perspective, the more people spend their time online communicating with others from any part of the world, undoubtedly, the lesser is the time spent with their families and friends. According to a study done in Malaysia, most parents agree that their children tend to be so enthralled in chatting, that peeling them away from the computer can prove to be a complicated task. Consequently, they lack face to face interaction with family members and friends which will eventually result in them leading sedentary lifestyles and having poor social interaction skills.

Technology always has its positive and negative aspects. It is we who must be rational to analyze what is good and bad. Advisably, we must prepare ourselves well to be able to handle situations with a degree of reason and rationality. In short, we can utilize the Internet to unravel new communication possibilities but at the same time, human interactions must not be neglected.

Writing Feedback / There is no better time to be alive than now (really?) [2]

Advances in science and technology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Today we no longer fear any contagious diseases, kudos to the modern technologies and the latest medical advancements. These have enabled humans to prevent themselves from being afflicted with various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity as well as survive them through surgeries. As a result, we now have longer life expectancies. As such, many believe that this is the best time to live and I agree to the aforementioned statement only to a certain degree.

It is an irrefutable fact that medical line has improved prodigiously that it had literally wiped out diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and smallpox that can lead to death if not cured at an early stage. As the popular maxim goes "Prevention is better than cure", a lot of vaccination programs have been launched and carried out consistently in schools and also in hospitals. Apart from that, enlightening talks and campaigns are being organized from time to time in order to educate the public about their health. Most importantly, now, there are health shows in televisions and radios. On top of that, the contributions of the food industries should not be neglected as well. After several researches, organic food materials, for instance organic rice, vegetables and fruits are now easily obtained in the market. In short, these prevention methods have undoubtedly kept plenty of diseases at bay.

Furthermore, nowadays we are exposed to numerous surgeries unlike centuries ago. Examples include bypass surgery to remove clogged arteries and replacing them with unclogged arteries to provide an alternative pathway for blood flow and laser treatment to eliminate any growth that can be detrimental to health. Moreover, today, we also benefit from the most recent facility, namely tele -medicine, whereby a doctor can consult another doctor from any part of the world when conducting surgeries. To conclude, medical advancements have made indeed made humans' life prolonged and convenient.

It may be true that advances in science and technology are advantageous to mankind. Nevertheless, the increase in longevity have been accompanied by a host of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, decline in vision and hearing abilities as well as loss in bone and muscle that are incurable. Researches are being conducted to find the appropriate medications for those diseases and also for others like cancer and dengue. Besides, some people do not really appreciate the advancements or the prevention programs held. They just do not seem to have changed their lifestyles but continue to live in the way of life they want. Thus, in this condition, all those progress in various fields seems to be disadvantageous.

To put it in a nutshell, countless prevention events are being established and more medical progressions are constantly taking place. Hence, we should equip ourselves with valuable nuggets of information regarding these as well as learn to change our lifestyles so that we will be in good health condition. By so doing, hopefully we can be as fit as a fiddle for a longer time.

Writing Feedback / "tourism does not benefit the poorest" - IELTS [5]

Suspended for ignoring the new thread title rules.

Most of the world's poor live in countries where tourism is a growing industry. The issue is that tourism does not benefit the poorest. How can the income generated by tourism benefit the poor? And how can we ensure that tourism does not destroy traditional cultures and ways of life? What are your views?

Today's world is divided into developing and industrialized countries. Surprisingly, majority of the poor people live in the developing countries where tourism is one of the major sectors that contribute a lion's share of the economies of the countries. Unfortunately, the income from this sector does not benefit the poorest and this is especially true in countries like India and Indonesia where there are still a large proportion of people living in penury. Apart from that, many are worried that the traditions and cultures of a particular country will deteriorate due to the influx of tourists. Hence, effective solutions must be achieved in order to reduce the problems stated above.

First, the income from the tourism sector can be put to better use by the government of the respective countries by setting up small stalls for the people who are poor. Most locals are usually skilled in making souvenirs or delicacies that are well-known in their countries. Thus, the authorities can advise and encourage the people to produce and sell the items they make at the stalls provided. As a result, on one hand, the poor can earn a living and on the other hand, the tourists will have ample of choices for their shopping. Besides, when the citizens prepare local delicacies, the tourists are exposed to the countries' traditional cuisine and ergo, it will be preserved.

Next, the government of the countries can build a culture village. Tourists visiting this village will be shown to the way of life of the locals in that country. Not only that, they can also experience the traditions and cultures of the various races of people in the country. As what is being done in places like Delhi and Cambodia, traditional dance shows can also be held. This has proved to be successful in attracting customers, primarily tourists to watch and know more about the traditions of the country. To run the shows, local people who are industrious and willing to learn and work can be employed. To conclude, by introducing a culture village, both the country and the poor people will be able to benefit.

To put it in a nutshell, a portion of the income generated through the tourism field can be utilized to help the poor to earn a little profit. Not only will they be able to gain something for themselves, but they will also lend a helping hand to the government to protect and preserve the country's traditions, cultures and customs.

Writing Feedback / USE OF CCTV CAMERAS (IELTS ESSAY) [6]

The use of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in streets, stations, shops and other public places has increased rapidly in recent years. Although we are told that these cameras help in the fight against crime, some people are opposed to their use. They believe that everyone has a right to privacy. What are your views?

Today, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras are widely used in a variety of circumstances. They are used in schools, businesses and some other premises in order to monitor the activities taking place. It is undeniable that the use of CCTV has plenty of benefits to offer, especially in reducing crimes and protecting the employees in a premise. Nevertheless, some argue that these cameras invade their privacies due to constantly being monitored. Even so, I strongly believe that CCTV cameras should be installed in every premise to combat the ever increasing theft rate and to protect the workers at the workplace.

Firstly, by having CCTV cameras at workplace, crimes such as robbery can be trimmed down. This is because when a shop is attacked by thieves, the clips taken by these cameras serve as a source of evidence to help the thieves to be traced. To illustrate this further, in Malaysia, policemen used the videos captured by the CCTV cameras to trace and successfully catch a group of robbers who broke into a Seven Eleven shop during the midnight. Not only that, as the employees know that they are under constant surveillance, they will less likely steal from the shops. Thus, it is clear that CCTVs must be put in all workplace so that crime rates can be minimized.

Furthermore, at some offices, employees are often required to handle angry or frustrated customers. At times, face-to-face interactions with an annoyed customer can put the employee in physical danger. Hence, the installation of CCTV cameras may help the employees escape this situation because the customers know very well that their conversations are recorded. In the event of an argument, the videotapes can used to determine what actually took place and further actions can be then taken. In short, these cameras can help to provide some form of protection to the workers against the customers.

Looking from another perspective, the use of CCTV cameras does cause controversy. Those opposing the CCTV systems feel that their privacies are invaded with the constant monitoring of the cameras. However, one must realize that safety is of paramount importance compared to privacy and prevention is always better than suffering from the consequences. Ergo, opponents of this system should try to comprehend the situation and take actions to prevent themselves from being victims of crime.

To conclude, CCTV cameras are essential and therefore must be installed in every premise. This is chiefly to shield oneself from being harmed by any intruders or robbers. Admittedly, privacies are lost with the use of these cameras. Nonetheless, safety should be put first in order to be safe.

Writing Feedback / Giving mobile phones to the unemployed (IELTS ESSAY) [6]

Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed person a mobile phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They believe this is the best way of using the public money to reduce the problem of unemployment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Today, the rate of unemployment is on the rise and is seriously being debated by many. Some opine that the best method to minimize this problem is by providing the unemployed with hand phones that have access to the Internet. They also believe that this solution is the most appropriate way to utilize the public money. Nevertheless, I agree to this solution only to a certain degree because I feel that giving those with no work a mobile phone each is a total waste of money.

In a positive point of view, when people without jobs have hand phones that have access to the Internet, they will be able to browse the net for more job opportunities. For example, they can surf the The Star Onlines' work section to find a job that is suitable for them. With the help of the net, they can also do more research on the work that they have found apart from looking up on how they can prepare themselves for the job. Not only that, the mobile phones can also be used to make calls with the companies in which they would like to work with. In short, if the government provides those without work with a mobile phone, they will be able to find themselves an occupation in order to live and survive.

Nonetheless, looking from another perspective, supplying hand phones to the unemployed is a waste of the taxpayers' money. This is because the money instead of being used to supply the electronic gadget can be used for other useful purposes for the country. To illustrate this further, the money can be used to build more amenities for the public or given to the poor so that they can use it to help them earn a living. To conclude, the money can be used for other intentions rather than giving hand phones to the unemployed.

Furthermore, when hand phones are provided for free, many would want to take advantage of this opportunity. It will not be surprising that in order to obtain a mobile phone, they make themselves jobless. Some might even go to the extent of lying that they are on unemployment to make them eligible to get the phones. In this context, the public's money is spent worthlessly. On top of that, till now, there are no surveys or evidences that prove this method in effective in reducing the rate of unemployment.

To put it in a nutshell, the suggestion of providing those who are jobless with mobile phones that are accessible to internet is not a proper and the best way to trim down the rate of unemployment. I suggest the government look into the background of the people in depth before giving out hand phones to them. I strongly believe that the public money should be utilized for the benefit of the society and not just for some of them who are not willing to put in more effort to find them a proper work.

Writing Feedback / "studying in overseas" - IS IT GOOD TO STUDY ABROAD ? [3]

Going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of the difficulty students inevitably encounters living and studying in different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many would be definitely be glad at the thought of being able to pursue their tertiary education abroad. Nevertheless, some argue that it is not good studying in overseas universities as the cultures of the students and the country they go to are dissimilar and this might pose some problems to them. While I admit to the aforementioned statement, I feel that there are plenty of benefits like being able to be independent and having the opportunity to get to know the cultures of other countries if students study in overseas.

First of all, when one studies abroad, he will have to stand on his own feet. Hence, this will inculcate responsibility in him. To illustrate this further, my brother who is currently studying in Russia who previously did not know how to cook, is now a deft hand in cooking. He learnt cooking due to the limited choices of food that was available in Russia when he first went there. Thus, students studying in overseas will be able to look after themselves as all their chores and tasks have to be done by them and this makes them more responsible.

Furthermore, indubitably, when students are in other countries apart from their own nations, they are exposed to the way of life in the place they are. Therefore, this serves as a great chance for them to explore and know in depth about the cultures and traditions of the citizens. For example, they can get more information about the traditional costumes and cuisines apart from the historical places found in the country. Moreover, they can also learn the language of the respective countries they go to in order to communicate with their people. Undoubtedly, this process of learning is much more appealing compared to knowing them from someone and by reading from any sources.

Looking from another perspective, I do agree some students feel homesick if they stay away from family and home for a very long time. My cousin who left to New Zealand to study medicine could not cope alone and frequently fall sick due to missing her family here. Somehow, now she managed to get admission into a local university and is presently happy here. Nonetheless, I feel that this is certainly a small matter and can surely be overcome. Parents should encourage their children to participate in more outdoor activities like camping that requires them to stay away from home for some time. By so doing, students can get used to being away from home.

In conclusion, studying in overseas has both advantages and some drawbacks. However, it is evident that the merits outweigh the disadvantages and proves that it is actually good to study abroad as students can gain vast knowledge and experiences as well as will be able to be more responsible and independent. Since experience is the best teacher, students must keep away the fear of being alone in a new place and take the challenge to study abroad.

Writing Feedback / IELTS ESSAY - FREEDOM TO EXPRESS IDEAS; '3 Idiots' [6]

Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words, picture, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on what they do. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this?

Artists in most countries are given the freedom to express their thoughts in whatever they do. Nevertheless, some argue that there should be government restrictions in order to limit their opinions. I however, agree to this only to a certain extent and believe that the artists must be given freedom so that they will produce some really marvelous masterpiece.

First and foremost, if there is control over artists' ideas, they will definitely lose their sense of creativity in the long run. It is undeniable that when they are given the opportunity to express themselves, most artists will think out of the box and come up with spectacular Arts such as paintings or movies. For example, paintings by Da Vinci and Michallengo are admired even till now as they were not restricted during those times. In short, without any limitations, there will be more awe inspiring work from our artists.

Furthermore, it is every human's right to be able to voice out their opinions in any ways as long as they do not cause any problems to the nation. Today, many countries make numerous efforts to show that they are democratic countries. Arts is one of the ways that can be used to criticise social problems and government policies in a particular country. To illustrate this further, the famous movie '3 Idiots' acted by Amir Khan criticises the education system which is chiefly based on memorising and not being able to apply whatever the students learn. Thus, human rights is violated if artists are not allowed to express their feelings freely.

Looking from another perspective, there are certain drawbacks if artists are not restricted. They might go deeper into certain aspects that can cause controversies in a country. To cite an example, Malaysia is a multiracial country whereby all the citizens live together in harmony and peace. In case there is anyone who brings up some sensitive issues in their films or books regarding any races, this might end up in some chaos among the society. Nonetheless, I believe that artists know their boundaries very well and would surely do not want their names tarnished just because of their unscrupulous acts.

To conclude, it is now evident that there should not be any restrictions on artists' work. Allowing them to think freely will give them an opportunity to express themselves as ideas can naturally flow when there are no limitations. Hence, even though freedom to express ideas can bring some negative effects, I certainly believe that there are many wonderful and beautiful Arts due to the freedom to express ideas and thus, I strongly believe there should be no restrictions on them.

Writing Feedback / ielts essay - ways of reducing traffic conditions [4]

The only way to reduce the amount of traffic in cities today is by reducing the need for people to travel from home for work, education or shopping. to what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is certainly undeniable that traffic in cities today is deteriorating compared to previous times. This is clearly evident with the increasing number of vehicles on the roads resulting in long commuting hours. Some argue that this this due to people travelling from home to workplace, school or to other destinations like the shopping malls. They believe that by minimising the need for them to travel to such places, amount of traffic can be reduced. However, I agree to this solution only to a certain extent as there are better alternatives such as using the public transport and carpooling to trim down the traffic.

First and foremost, people can help to minimise traffic by reducing their travels outdoors. With the advent of the technology, Internet can be used for various purposes. Businessman can now carry out online-based trading and work from the comfort of their houses. Furthermore, students can communicate with their lecturers and classmates using messengers like Yahoo Messenger and Skype. Apart from that, through websites such as e-Bay, shoppers can purchase almost whatever they need from home. Hence, nowadays virtually everything can be done from home, thus reducing the need to travel to the required place.

Nevertheless, the aforementioned solution is not the only effective one that is available. People can use public transport more often than using their own private vehicles. Besides that, employees and students who are going to the same destinations can always car practise carpooling. On one hand, this will help to improve the traffic conditions on the road while on the other hand, since lesser vehicles are used, air pollution is also reduced.

Looking from another perspective, definitely there are certain drawbacks when people work from home. First of all, workers or students might not be as responsible as they can be when they attend work or classes respectively. This is because, when they are at home, they can start working or studying whenever they like. Consequently, they might end up being unreliable. On top of that, not all houses have access to the Internet. As such, people will have travel than to complete the task at home.

In short, it is clear that working indoors is not the only effective solution. There are also better ways such as carpooling and using the public transportation frequently. Although the former solution has some negative aspects, I believe that they can be avoided. If only each of us are able to contribute our parts, the amount of traffic can certainly be reduced.

Writing Feedback / IELTS - solving crime through attacking the causes of crime [2]

In order to reduce crime, we need to attack the causes of crime such as poverty and lack of educational opportunities. It is not enough to simply have more police on the street and put more people into prison. To what extent do you agree with this opinion?

The rate of crime in today's society is on the rise day by day. News related to delinquencies is seen in newspapers and media almost daily. Thus, many opine that comprehensive actions should be taken in order to minimize the number of crimes taking place, which includes looking into the causes of those misconducts instead of having more police and jailing those who commit crimes. I agree to this solution only to a certain degree as there are obviously more effective ways to reduce the problem.

First and foremost, it is undeniable that most people commit negative activities due to them being in dire need of money to sustain their lives. Examples of those offenses are such as being snatch thieves, robbing, and killing for money. If only they had a proper job to earn a living, I am sure that they will not go to the extent of hurting others to get money. Apart from that, by providing each citizen with equal opportunities of education, everyone will be educated. As a result, they will be rational enough not to commit those crimes.

In addition, increasing the number of police on the street alone is not sufficient. They must go on patrol more frequently than they used to. Consequently, people will not be bold enough to commit crimes as they know very well that they will be caught and punished. Besides, I feel that the government should come up with stricter laws so that the public will be afraid of committing crimes. For example, those who are caught red handed selling and distributing drugs will have to pay a large sum of money like RM 1,000 000 and also will be canned 30 times. Definitely, dreading these kinds of punishments, people will not want get involved in crimes.

However, looking at the other perspective, some people may think that by just giving the public equal education chances, providing jobs and implementing stricter rules, crime cannot be effectively reduced. Well, in my opinion, if everything is carried out consistently with a lot of effort put into it, certainly the aim of diminishing the number of crime can be achieved. Maybe it will not bring about zero crime, but we may expect some changes to take place as for changes to happen, changes must be done.

To conclude, I do agree that in order to trim down the number of crimes that is occurring, the main source of the problem should be looked into. Solutions to combat the root of the problem coupled with other methods such as police going on rounds more often as well as imposing stringent regulations will surely help to keep the level of crimes low. It is always no harm in trying out new ways in order to solve an existing, perennial predicament especially if previous solutions do not work as effective as expected.

Writing Feedback / IELTS ESSAY- JURY MUST HAVE ACCESS TO CRIMINALS PAST RECORDS [NEW]

Under British and Australian laws, a jury in a criminal case has no access to information about the defendant's past criminal record. This protects the person who is being accused of the crime. Some lawyers have suggested that this practice should be changed and that a jury should be given all the past facts before they reach their decision about the case. Do you agree or disagree?

It is a well known fact that a jury involved in a case has no information regarding the criminal's past illegal acts under the British and Australian laws. There are few of those who are concerned think the current practice should be altered and that the juries should at least know something about the criminals before coming to a conclusion. I, for one, agree to this resolution whole-heartedly as it poses advantages to various parties as I shall discuss below.

First and foremost, I believe that it would be easier for the juries to make a decision if they know about the past information about the criminal. This is because, knowing their background very well will enable the juries to analyze the crime before coming up with a judgment. For instance, take a person who has not murdered anyone but is suddenly found to be guilty. The juries will be able to know weather the individual committed the crime intentionally or due to circumstances by knowing the facts about the person. Then, punishment can be given in accordance to the condition.

Apart from that, a fair trial can be achieved. As all of us know, juries are a group of people who have no or less knowledge regarding law. Thus, exposing them to the past records of the criminal can give them more room to think rationally and finally put the pieces together in order to produce a more meaningful decision. By doing so, the juries will have a sense of relief that they have come up with better conclusion based on plenty of evidences. Not only that, the convicted will also receive a fair action.

It is undeniable that when the background of the convicted is 'dug' deeper and is revealed to mass of anonymous people, his privacy is being jeopardized. If finally he is proven innocent, he may feel embarrassed to face the public. However, I am sure that the crimes done by criminals should be brought to light and the public should be aware of it so that they will not become a victim as well.

To conclude, I definitely feel that the current way of the juries judging the case should be transformed and they should know the facts about the criminals they are dealing with. This is of paramount importance so that they will be able to give a better and reliable as well as a fair judgment to the convicted. Beneficial changes will certainly take place if changes are made because for a change to happen, changes have to be done.

Writing Feedback / IELTS - QUALITIES A PERSON NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL [2]

The qualities a person needs to become successful in today's world cannot be learned at a university or similar academic institution. To what extent do you agree or disagree？

In today's modern and competitive society, it is undeniable that we must equip ourselves with plenty of knowledge and skills in order to shine and to be successful in life. Many opine that the aforementioned aspects are mostly obtained through learning in academic institutions. I do agree to that opinion to a certain degree. Nevertheless, I feel that one can also shine without even having to attend universities.

First and foremost, it is certainly true that university education is of paramount importance for certain professions such as doctor, engineer and lawyer. Without proper training and knowledge, it would be impossible for them to perform their best in their careers. Not only that, when they are in a university, they will have the opportunity to share their knowledge as well as to network for business associates and partners. This can benefit them in future when they intend to open up their own companies or hospitals.

Looking from another perspective, there are also a significant number of people who are very successful in their fields without going to university. Take for instance those who start their own business. These people depend solely on hard work and luck. Interestingly, for some of them it proved to be a profitable job. To cite an example, Michael Dell who is the founder and the CEO of Dell left college at 19. Initially, he started his computer company in his college dorm room. Eventually, he used his earnings as well as his family's loan in order to progress to be who he is now.

In addition, people with natural talents are also most likely to excel in their life. This is especially true in sectors like entertainment and sports. The introduction of increasing number of reality shows have made it possible for all those lucky ones to triumph. To illustrate this further, David Archuleta who was once a nobody has now taken up a large space in hearts of many. Hence, it is evident that individuals born with talents have also a high chance to be successful.

To wrap it all up, it is indeed true that university education is pivotal in a person's life in order for one to prosper. However, it would be wrong to say that one's success completely depends on the education he or she receives at the institutions. Natural talent and hard work also contribute to their progress.